Sodium aurothiosulfate

Sodium aurothiosulfate is a chemical compound used in various applications, including medicine and photography. It is a type of gold salt, which refers to a gold compound that is soluble in water. Sodium aurothiosulfate is also known as gold sodium thiosulfate and is represented by the chemical formula Na3Au(S2O3)2.

Chemical Properties

Sodium aurothiosulfate is a complex salt of gold(III) and thiosulfate. It is a yellow crystalline solid that is soluble in water. The compound is stable under normal conditions, but it can decompose under heat or in the presence of strong acids.

Uses

Medicine

In medicine, sodium aurothiosulfate is used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. It is administered intramuscularly as part of chrysotherapy, a type of therapy that uses gold salts to reduce inflammation and slow down the progression of the disease.

Photography

In photography, sodium aurothiosulfate is used as a fixer. It helps to remove unexposed silver halide from photographic film or paper, thus stabilizing the image and making it resistant to further exposure to light.

Safety

As with other gold salts, sodium aurothiosulfate can cause side effects such as skin rash, mouth sores, and kidney problems. It is therefore important to use this compound under the supervision of a healthcare professional.

See Also

• Gold(III) chloride
• Sodium thiosulfate
• Chrysotherapy
• Photographic processing